The series that began with
the award winning, The Territory, and
continued in Scratchgravel Road, continues in the recently released Wrecked.
While this novel could be read as a standalone, because of the numerous references
to the two prior books scattered throughout this novel, readers who have read
the earlier works will appreciate this one more. Some of those references are clear
spoilers for the prior books.
Deep in southwest Texas in
the Big Bend region lays the small town of Artemis, Texas. A small border town
where folks struggle to survive despite the economy of the region as well as
the violence that occasionally spills across the border into Texas. Chief of
Police Josie Gray knows firsthand about the violence that comes across the
border and might prefer that to local politics.
The idea that Mayor Steve
Moss would show up at her door one morning at 6:30 am is something she has
never had to contemplate before. This spring morning he has arrived unannounced
and she is less than thrilled to see him no matter what he wants. She has been
Chief of Police for six years now and their mutual distrust has steadily grown.
According to the Mayor, a local woman by the name of Roxanne Spar, went to one
of the officer the night before and filed some sort of harassment/stalking
charge on Moss. Not only does Chief Gray know nothing about the case or the
charge, Moss thinks she should destroy all the paperwork on the case because he
said to do it. That won't happen under Gray's watch and the Mayor should have
known that.
Of course, Moss should not
have put himself in to a position that a woman could accuse him of wrong doing.
If he wasn’t smart enough to know that as Mayor, he should have known that as a
married man. For Chief Gray Moss’s problems at home and politically are going
to become nearly meaningless as in a few hours her boyfriend, Dillon
Reese, will disappear.
The next seven days are a
nightmare for Chief Gray as she has to take a backseat in the investigation and
search for Dillon. Haunted by her actions in the early hours when she wasn't
aware he was missing, she can't do much of anything as the days pass and Dillon
remains in the clutches of the kidnappers. Having to step aside and let others
run things their way is a role guaranteed to drive her crazy if her own
emotions about the events don't make her snap first.
The latest in the series
from author Tricia Fields is a good read. While the previous books were more
police procedural oriented, this one is considerably more psychological
suspense as it shifts through the various character viewpoints. Of course the police
work is still present, but the primary focus is on what Dillon’s disappearance
does to Chief Gray and others as well as what being kidnapped does to Dillon. Guilt,
rage, and angst are the main components for all in differing amounts as the
case drags on day after day with no easy answers. Despite the occasionally
travelogue feel to the series, the reads are complex and feature realistic
characters and multiple interesting storylines. As noted, this is one of those series
best read in order from the beginning with The Territory and Scratchgravel Road.
Wrecked
Tricia Fields
Minotaur Books (Thomas Dunne Book)
2014
ISBN# 978-1-250-02137-3
Hardback (also available in e-book
and audio)
320 Pages
$29.99
Material supplied the good
folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
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